Overview
Itinerary
Welcome to Rapid City!
At 6pm, meet your travelling companions for a welcome drink. Your Tour Director will prepare you for your upcoming adventure.
Legends of the West
After breakfast, enjoy an orientation tour of Rapid City. Visit Badlands National Park to see some of the most spectacular scenery in the region. Afterward, there's time to explore Wall Drug, known for its quirky roadside signs. Continue to Custer State Park for a backcountry adventure; a Buffalo Safari with a local expert and Chuckwagon Cookout. (B/D)
LOCAL FAVOURITE - WHERE THE BUFFALO ROAM: Awaken your adventurer's spirit on a Buffalo Safari in Custer State Park. This U.S. national mammal and historic mainstay of indigenous peoples, the American Bison is a native species of North America whose numbers were reduced from some 60 million across the great bison belt grasslands from Alaska to the Atlantic to a mere 540 or so by the late 1880s. Standing 6 feet tall and weighing up to 2,000 pounds, these formidable and majestic mammals have been restored in numbers due to conservation efforts of the 20th century.
TOUR HIGHLIGHT - ACCOMMODATION SPOTLIGHT: Enjoy an overnight stay at the historic State Game Lodge in Custer State Park. This gracious stone and wood lodge is set in a beautiful mountain valley, surrounded by a ponderosa pine forest. Built in 1920 and listed on the National Register of Historic Places, the lodge served as the "Summer White House" for President Calvin Coolidge and was visited by President Dwight D. Eisenhower.
Wild & Wooly Discoveries
Travel to Hot Springs to visit the world's largest Mammoth Site. Next, Crazy Horse Memorial, built in honour of the fearless Sioux Chief whose renown is derived from the Battle of Little Bighorn. The remainder of the day is yours to relax in Custer State Park. Perhaps try some fly-fishing, mountain biking, or take a nature walk. (B/D)
LOCAL FAVOURITE - HISTORIC SITES: Dig deeper into prehistoric South Dakota with a visit to the Mammoth Site and Museum. Tour the world's largest mammoth research facility and active dig site, where scientists are currently excavating remains of mammoths that were trapped and died in the pond more than 26,000 years ago. After a short tour, you'll have time to stroll the sidewalks of the dig area and see the paleontology labouratory. Imagine this landscape when the more than 60 Mammoths found to date roamed and ruled in the Pleistocene era in North America.
Statesmen, Sheriffs & Sharpshooters
Visit one of the world's largest stone monuments - Mount Rushmore National Memorial - to see the solid granite faces of four legendary American presidents majestically carved more than a thousand feet overhead. Continue to the historic Old West town of Deadwood for a tour with a Local Guide. Afterwards, drive the scenic Spearfish Canyon for an overnight at the exclusive Spearfish Canyon Lodge. (B/D)
TOUR HIGHLIGHT - LEGENDS & LORE: The legendary town of Deadwood is home to the ghosts of the Wild West, where bold frontiersmen and optimistic gold miners set down stakes in this untamed mining town. Hear the rip-roaring stories of legends like Wild Bill Hickok, Calamity Jane, and Potato Creek Johnny while exploring the streets where shoot-outs and sheriffs ruled the day.
Meanwhile, Back at the Ranch...
Continue across the grassy plains of Wyoming and soak in the expansive blue skies. Enjoy lunch at the historic Ranch at UCross with free time to enjoy a variety of activities. Next, cross the Bighorn Mountains via Shell Creek Canyon to Buffalo Bill's Wild West town of Cody, Wyoming. (B/L)
LOCAL FAVOURITE - LOCAL TASTES: You're invited to lunch at The Ranch at UCross - smack in the middle of the Wyoming landscape that's rich in the history of the American West. Explore activities to get in the cowboy spirit in the region where writers, sculptors and artists have found inspiration for years. See gentle horses, sweeping scenery, and plenty of trout in the river make this the perfect place to get away from it all.
Frontier Treasures
Visit Buffalo Bill centre of the West, a fascinating tribute to frontier America. Depart for Yellowstone National Park, America's first national park, where wild animals roam freely in vast meadows and forest. (B)
TOUR HIGHLIGHT - LEGENDARY LIVES: The mission of the Buffalo Bill centre of the West is to connect people to the stories of the American West. Here in the town named for Bill Cody (Buffalo Bill), you'll find a wealth of historic artifacts, artwork, and amazing insight to the historic American West and Native American culture in this complex founded in 1917 to continue the vision of Col. William F. Cody - named by the NY Times as 'among the nation's most remarkable museums.'
America's First National Park
A full day's adventure in this vast national park! See the Grand Canyon of Yellowstone with its Upper and Lower Falls. Watch for herds of bison in Hayden Valley, and view many of Yellowstone's geothermal sites, including Old Faithful Geyser. (B/D)
TOUR HIGHLIGHT - NATURAL WONDERS: Designated as a national park by law 150 years ago, President Ulysses S. Grant worked to preserve and protect the wild landscapes, native heritage, spectacular wildlife, and extraordinary geologic and ecological phenomena that make this Rocky Mountain paradise a treasure today and for future generations to treasure. From geysers to grizzlies and great bison, no one leaves the park without being changed forever by the natural wonder witnessed in any of its 2.2 million acres of pristine wilderness.
Glacial Giants
This morning, tour Grand Teton National Park on your way to Jackson for a 2-night stay at the Rustic Inn at Jackson Hole. (B)
TOUR HIGHLIGHT - NATURAL WONDERS: Is it any wonder that Grand Teton National Park draws millions of visitors each year? With its magnificent peaks and glacial landscapes, this Rocky Mountain marvel is the perfect pairing of natural grandeur and frontier spirit of the town of Jackson. Find serenity on the shores of gorgeous glacier-fed Jenny Lake and stroll along the shore before continuing to Jackson. This evening, why not visit the Antler Arches, enjoy a drink at the iconic Million Dollar Cowboy Bar, or shop for the perfect cowboy hat?
Peak Experiences
Today is at your leisure to explore on your own, enjoy your resort, or perhaps take an optional float trip down the Snake River. (B)
FREE TIME TIPS - EXPLORE MORE: in Jackson with an optional float trip along the Snake River, stroll along the downtown boardwalks to enjoy a drink at one of the local saloons, or explore one of the many galleries that call Jackson home.
This is the Place!
Follow the Snake River and lovely Star Valley en route to Utah. Wind along the shores of beautiful Bear Lake before climbing through the Wasatch Mountains and on to the Great Salt Lake Basin and Salt Lake City. Tonight, enjoy a farewell dinner hosted by your Tour Director. (B/D)
TOUR HIGHLIGHT - HISTORIC SPOT: The capital city of Utah was first established in 1847 by early pioneer settlers led by Brigham Young, who exclaimed, "This is the right place," upon seeing its vistas and verdant landscapes. More recently, the city played host to the 2002 Olympics and now offers a vibrant downtown with a variety of stores, attractions, and restaurants.
Safe travels until we meet again!
Your holiday ends with breakfast this morning. Want to explore more in Salt Lake City? Additional nights are available for purchase. (B)
Trip Inclusions
- 10 Breakfasts
- 1 Lunches
- 5 Dinners
- Rapid City The Rushmore Hotel (First-Class)
- Custer State Park State Game Lodge at Custer State Park (First-Class)
- Lead Spearfish Canyon Lodge (First-Class)
- Cody Holiday Inn Buffalo Bill Village - Cody (First-Class)
- Yellowstone National Park Canyon Lodge - Yellowstone National Park (National Park)
- Yellowstone National Park Mammoth Hot Springs Hotel - Yellowstone National Park (National Park)
- Yellowstone National Park Old Faithful Inn - Yellowstone National Park (National Park)
- Jackson Rustic Inn at Jackson Hole Creekside (First-Class)
- Salt Lake City Radisson Hotel Downtown Salt Lake City (First-Class)
- Airport transfers at your arrival and departure destination are not included in the price of the tour.
- Itinerary and inclusions subject to change.
- Price is for land, cruise and specified internal flights. International flights not included.
- Routes and areas visited in Yellowstone are subject to weather and/or road conditions.
- This holiday visits national parks and other remote locations where some facilities may not be up to the first-class standard you expect from Globus. Some lodges within the parks do not have televisions and other amenities you would expect from most Globus hotels.
Don't waste your precious time queueing up, skip the lines with special VIP access at the must-see sites. Read more
Travel with expert Tour Directors and Local Guides who share their vast knowledge of the USA. Read more
Globus has the recipe for a great holiday. Savour the flavours of the USA through its regional cuisine. Read more
Globus' selection of hotels in unforgettable places ensure you stay right in the heart of each destination. Read more
Globus' coaches offer one of the most comfortable, stress-free and eco-friendly ways to travel. Read more
Do as the locals do and enjoy unique experiences that you wouldn't find touring on your own. Read more
Trip Reviews (5) Most Recent 'The Classic Lodges & Parks of the West' Reviews
The buffalo safari allowed us to get especially close to wildlife and the vastness of Badlands National Park was hauntingly beautiful. And we saw so much wildlife including bear, coyote, bison, elk, sheep, deer, etc. Being located at Yellowstone for 2 days, at various parts of the park, allowed us to explore most of the points of interest. I felt the lunch stop in Montana and driving via Idaho to Salt Lake City were surprise add-ons as well. I felt the Beartooth Highway from Cody into the Yellowstone area was one of the most scenic drives I have every done. All in all, it was a wonderful trip that surpassed our expectations, creating new friendships and new memories, and wondering why I had not discovered this region years earlier.
The tour was excellent - easy paced and not at all rushed, helped in part by one of the best tour directors we have ever come across. Steve was a wealth of information having lived and worked in Yellowstone for over ten years. There was nothing he did not know about the areas we visited. Kirt, our driver, was also excellent.
The fact that there was still a lot of snow lying around just added to the beauty of the scenery. One of the highlights was the float trip down the Snake River as well as the abundance of wildlife we saw - bears, moose, bison just to mention a few.
We had only 17 on our tour - three Aussies - and everyone got on well. The smaller group size made for ease of moving around and plenty of space on the coach. Hotels in Rapid City and Salt Lake City were a few minutes walk from the town centres.
We couldn’t fault Jemma’s handling of our booking with every query answered promptly and efficiently. Looking forward to our next booking with Global Journeys.
Availability
A definite departure means minimum numbers have been reached for this departure to operate. Your Global Journeys Travel Advisor will check the availability of your departure date when you enquire. Additional savings may apply. We guarantee the lowest price in Australia. T&C’s apply.
Tour & cruises prices are per person. Prices shown have savings applied, are subject to availability and may be withdrawn at any time without notice. Pricing and trip details are correct at this point in time, however are subject to confirmation at the time of booking and are subject to change by Globus. For cruise itineraries, cabin images are sourced from Globus. These should be treated as indicative only. Cabin inclusions, upholsteries and room layout may differ to the image(s) shown depending on the ship selected and your sailing dates.
